MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Update: It's alive!

Don't know if this is interesting to anyone, but I was the guy a while back that wasn't sure if I should take this car:

http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=6&subjectar=6&thread=2006010717480614446

While the car still isn't roadworthy yet (is that even a word?), it runs now. I went by the the mechanic just to hear it, but I still can't drive it because the breaks don't work yet. It wasn't easy to listen to it and not be able to drive it, but that's life.

The points and condenser on the distributer were fried and the carbs were leaking gas, but that's taken care of now. The exhaust pipe has a hole in it. I'll probably just replace it, as I've had bad experiences with welding old exhaust pipes on other cars. If I recall correctly it's just a bolt-on replacement with no welding, is this correct? If so I think I can handle that job myself.

Can't wait to drive it for the first time.
Darian Henderson

Darian, There is no welding involved in replacing the exaust system. It's a simple bolt on job. The only problem you may run into is the three studs where the exaust manifold and the front pipe connect. The nuts should be brass. If they are, they will probably come right off. But, if someone has used steel nuts, they can be a bear to remove. Use penetrating oil, and give it time to work. I remember the first time I fired my engine up after 25 years. The sound brought back so many memories! I hope you will be able to take it out for a drive real soon. Keep up the good work.
Ed Bell

Well Done Darian - good choice - exhaust can be fiddly to put on especially manifold nuts as Ed has pointed out - make sure you use new bracket at the rear as rubber is probably perished - any photos yet? - put one onSergeswebsite gallery - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Anytime you add a bolt to an MGA your are always advised to use anti-seize compound. It's not likely you will be taking things aprt after a rebuild but if you hace to you will be glad you use anti-seize. Congrats Gordon
Gordon Harrison

Glad your getting it back on the road. Thanks for keeping us posted. Pictures we like PICTURES!!

Tom
Tom

Thanks everyone. I wish I could say that I was able to do this all myself, but getting the distributer going was too much for my abilities and the mechanic was the one that discovered/fixed the leaky carb. I was able to replace the fuel lines in the engine compartment as well as all the rubber hosing on the cooling/heating system. I couldn't find anywhere that sold them so I just bought some bulk hosing and cut to size. I had to remove the radiator to get to the bottom clamp...

Put in a new sports coil, too, just in case. Was able to find a 12 volt battery from Walmart that was a perfect fit widthwise and only slightly too big lengthwise. Since the back end of the battery mount has broken off, it's a perfect fit.

Amazingly the gauges seem to still work, except the speedometer was broken before it was parked for decades.

But I still have that engine sound in my head and I want to drive it. It's not fair!

No good pictures yet. It's got a lot of surface rust but I can post some more when I get it home and wash it - hopefully in a week. (It's been a little cold here - well cold for Texas anyways.)
Darian Henderson

Thanks everyone for the advice about the exhaust. I'm assuming Moss sells the brackets you were talking about?
Darian Henderson

Outstanding!
Del Rawlins

A nice touch would be to post an old picture on Serge's site with your father in the car and a new one with you in it. Same goes for you, Del.

Derek Nicholson

http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/mga/

Top picture is my dad and the MGA shortly after he bought it. Next is the car around '92 during an engine change, next would have been around '95ish when it still ran, and finally the bottom picture is the storage rental that I rescued it from last August. The disassembled car is still there and belongs to my brother. Our dad was restoring it at the time of his death, and whenever Tom manages to move back to Alaska he's going to finish it with my help. I don't think I have any pictures of myself in the '59, and it will be some time before I get it back into photo-worthy condition. There will of course, be pictures taken as the restoration progresses.
Del Rawlins

Hey Del,

Any chance you will have the '59 ready for GT32 in Whistler in July? Probably the closest a NAMGAR GT is ever going to be to Alaska! Check out www.GT32.com for details of the event.

Hope we'll see you there. Regards, Peter.
P. Tilbury

None whatsoever. Sorry.
Del Rawlins

This thread was discussed between 03/02/2007 and 08/02/2007

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.